Telemedicine for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis during COVID-19 pandemic: an Italian ALS referral center experience.
Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener
; 22(3-4): 308-311, 2021 05.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-759865
ABSTRACT
We describe the telemedicine experience of an Italian ALS tertiary Center during COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 144 visits were scheduled between 6th March and 6th April 2020. These mostly consisted of neurological or psychological visits (139, 96.5%). One hundred thirty-nine (96.5%) visits were performed as telemedicine and mostly via phone call (112, 80.6%). Three (2.1%) visits were considered as urgent and maintained as outpatient care. Additionally, patients were still able to telephone, being put through directly to their neurologists. Many requests of contact were addressed at getting information about the scheduled visits or examinations (45, 43.3%). Globally, patients and caregivers were satisfied with the telemedicine service. However, the majority (85, 65.9%) would prefer a face-to-face visit. In conclusion, telemedicine could be considered a good complement to face-to-face care, even after social restrictions have been eased.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Psychology
/
Patient Satisfaction
/
Telemedicine
/
Patient Preference
/
COVID-19
/
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
/
Neurology
Type of study:
Qualitative research
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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